Dawkin's arrogance is matched only by his brilliance. I find it hard to listen to him, but his ideas are so compelling that you can't not listen. I decided to ignore his persona and stick with the content. This is a seminal book and should be viewed as a companion to the Origin of the Species. Dawkins lays out the framework of evolution through the unit of information called the gene (which has a special definition in this work--not quite what we think of as a "gene" today). I decided to read the Selfish Gene after reading James Gleick's wonderful book "The Information," which has a chapter that draws on Dawkin's theory in The Selfish Gene. While Gleick gives you the essential high points, there is no substitute for following Dawkins through his tight-nit, intellectually disciplined, and detailed support for his theory. I am glad I listened to this book, but it took more commitment than other science audiobooks. I suppose that is because unlike many books that try to popularize science or treat it as historical biography, The Selfish Gene is itself a scientific work in which Dawkins sets out his theory of the gene as the fundamental unit of evolution.

It had a lot of controversial points on it especially when it was first published. Dawkins has added post script clarifications about many small details in the book. As a paper book, this book might be easier to finish because you could skip some of those unless you wanted more details on the author's thought process. In this edition, you're flooded with obscure facts, details and why Dawkins wrote what he did in the post scripts. "People didn't like when I said 'blah blah blah' because at the time people believed 'this other thing' and I'm right/wrong because of 'more elaboration'"

I ultimately couldn't finish the last six hours of the book due to the annoying descriptions added in the post scripts which are difficult to skip.

This book came highly recommended to me by multiple friends and colleagues. I regret purchasing this audio version as the constant endnotes narrated by Dawkins I feel detracted from the entire flow of the book and thus I found it very hard to get into.

The naration of the book is a bit fragmented, and therefore distracting, and Dawkins debating his academic rivals/critics gets tedious. But the ideas he presents are original, compelling and fascinating. Certainly has changed my view of the world. Well worth your time.

Yes, if he or she had some patience for biology and some curiosity about genetics in detail. It rewards the careful listener, and while not a light read, it is accessible and stimulating.

What did you like best about this story?

The eleventh chapter on memes is exciting. Perhaps the best-known of the sections, although I am not sure Dawkins back in the mid-70s anticipated this via the Internet.

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked discussions, embryonic given their later expansion into The God Delusion, of snippets of how religious beliefs were found erroneous or risible. Agree or not, this is memorable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The fact that we lack any grand purpose other than to serve as vehicles for the immortal replicator. While Schopenhauer was never cited, this force that drives us to reproduce despite the consequences and drain on our resources and time is a sobering perspective.

Any additional comments?

The alternation of Dawkins' genial donnish tones and his partner Leila Ward's spry delivery is a great way to keep readers alert. They serve to discuss the material, with its updates for this 2011 presentation, and to show what has and has not changed in the subject since 1976

Would you consider the audio edition of The Selfish Gene to be better than the print version?

In this version of The Selfish Gene, the footnotes are very cleanly added to the ends of chapters, and Dawkins went to a great effort to make sure the volume has been updated as the times have progressed. He and his wife have great voices when they are used in tandem as within.

What about Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward ’s performance did you like?

The way they work together is charming, and it helped with the differentiation between the past and the present, the author and the non-author. It was a great instrument choice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It widened my view in some ways and sharpened it in others. It forces you to critically observe natural phenomena from a new perspective that can, yes, at times be reminiscent of psychosis.

That gave the 70's it's moniker The Me Generation. And when read incorrectly it certainly makes a great case for that. But read as the genius scientific treatise that it is, we're convinced again by Dawkin's magic wit that the replicator, the proto-bearer of all individual life forms - which are really just handy bags for ferrying about the masters of replication, the almighty and neigh on immortal genes - that these replicators are the force behind the populations of the universe and that their replication is, in the Darwinian time scale, what keeps us all living, laughing, loving and most importantly, replicating.

Definitely. Richard Dawkins is certainly one of the most interesting figures in modern biology. His ideas are revolutionary, and everyone should be introduced to them. Dawkins is very skilled at making complex ideas understandable!

What did you like best about this story?

Well, it is about life, about us, about where we came from and why we are here. Fascinating. You won't see the world in the same way after digesting this book.

What about Richard Dawkins and Lalla Ward ’s performance did you like?

This was an amazing read. In this 30 year revision he has added many footnotes and a marvelous introduction! If you have read earlier versions of this book you will be impressed at the additions; well worth it!